Chopped Kale Salad with apples, pecans, and cranberries mixed with a maple vinaigrette kale dressing is a great chopped salad. This Fall salad recipe keeps well in the fridge without getting soggy and even kale-haters love it!
A chopped kale salad may not seem like something to get excited about, but when I made this for friends and family, everyone loved it.
Zoe decided that after Thanksgiving, we needed some healthy food to go with our turkey sliders. I'm not joking.
Those sliders with cheese and green chili were good. But this kale cranberry salad had everyone coming back for seconds.
Even Manservant who's always told me that he'd much rather have a spinach salad than kale, came back for more. I do though, understand where he is coming from.
However if you treat your kale right and give it some love, you just might convert those non believers. I know I did.
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This Kale Salad Rocks!
Chopped kale salad with apples and nuts and pomegranates, cranberries or dried cherries, tossed with this incredible maple balsamic kale dressing is totally loveable.
If you've read many of my posts regarding salads, I'm sure you've seen this maple balsamic vinaigrette pop up before.
Well, let me tell you a secret. It's worth it.
I actually buy the maple balsamic vinegar near here at a totally outstanding olive oil and vinegar shop. I'm not being paid to say this stuff. I just love it.
I love that this salad keeps for a few days in the fridge as long as it isn't overdressed.
And I love that everyone loves this salad!
Just One Favorite Comment
(My daughter sent me your recipe to make bc it was one of her favorites. I can see why. Thank you for sharing!)
And thank you for telling me! This salad is a hit with everyone who tries it!
A really good massage and lots of chopping into small pieces. Heavy fibrous stems are not something I want in my kale salad, so I always cut out the spine. I use Redbor or Red Russian kale. Lacinato kale, which is an Italian green kale, is also good. Pretty and ruffly and purple, Redbor kale would also make a great centerpiece.
Kale salad dressing should be balanced with a sweetness to counteract the acid and bitterness of the kale. This kale dressing with mustard, garlic and a sweet vinegar really kills it IMO!
How To Make a Kale Salad
First make sure your kale is washed and clean. I often wash it one day, roll it up in a clean dish towel and chop it the next.
Toast the pecans and try to keep away from grabby hands. Someone in my house could eat all of the toasted pecans!
Make the dressing. I make mine ahead of time and then toss it as needed. You probably won't want all of it, but this kale dressing is also great on a regular green salad.
The next day I cut out the giant rib from the center of the kale leaf. Not all of them need to be cut.
Stack the leaves, roll them up and slice or julienne until the pieces are fairly fine. Then give them a good chop!
Now time for a massage. Not for me. For the kale.
When tossing a kale salad, you really want to get those chopped kale leaves soaked with dressing. But don't add too much. You can always add more before serving.
Chop the scallions and apples and crumble the feta and decide if you want dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds. Both are good!
And if you want a different cheese besides feta, crumbled blue is great as is Unexpected White Cheddar.
Now build your salad and serve. Be ready for compliments.
What kale should be used in a salad?
Experiment with different types of kale. Some are stronger and earthier than others.
Most kales are best while they are young and some become sweeter after a frost. Some like lacinato, have a bitter overtone and do great with citrus.
I like Redbor or Red Russian kale. Kale is categorized by leaf type. Bumpy, flat or ornamental.
Is kale healthy?
Kale is considered a nutrient dense food. Loaded with Vitamins A, K and C; there are also 3 grams of protein in every cup.
There is more Vitamin C in 1 cup of kale than in an orange. To read more on kale, check this out.
Besides health benefits, my favorite part is that a kale salad keeps for a few days.
It doesn't start spewing out moisture like my close friend, Mr. Cabbage. Kale knows how to keep it together!
A chopped kale salad is a great change from coleslaw.
Kale is also very versatile. It can be steamed, roasted, or steamed and is perfect for adding to soup. Not to mention those who love it in smoothies.
Make Your Own Kale Dressing
This simple dressing contains just 5 ingredients.
The key ingredient is balsamic maple vinegar which is so good I could just drink it.
If you haven't yet bought this mix 3 tablespoons of maple syrup with about ¼ c of balsamic vinegar. You should be able to taste the maple and please be sure to use good balsamic vinegar.
I find Costco's good for every day use.
The garlic and mustard add flavor also, so don't skimp.
This vinaigrette is also great on other salads, so if you didn't use it all, place it in a sealed container and store it in the fridge.
This chopped kale salad keeps well for a few days.
In our home we often serve it for Thanksgiving. It is also great for potlucks.
And hope for leftovers!
I'd love to hear if you make this recipe!
Please share a review or rate the recipe,
and be sure to tag me on social!
Recipe
Chopped Kale Salad with Apples, Pecans and Maple Vinaigrette
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: O Minutes
- Total Time: 20 Minutes
- Yield: About 10 side dish servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Chop
- Cuisine: American
Description
Chopped kale salad with a maple vinaigrette, pecans and apples is a great Fall salad.
Ingredients
2 bunches kale (I used redbor) which should be about 8 c chopped
2 apples, sliced and diced (I slice the apple in apple shaped slices. Then I stack the slices and cut them into squares.)
1 bunch scallions, chopped fine
4 oz container pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries
4 oz crumbled feta
1 c chopped toasted pecans
Vinaigrette
3 cloves minced garlic
1 T Dijon mustard
⅓ c maple balsamic vinegar
Salt and Pepper
⅔ c olive oil plus 3 T
Instructions
Begin by making the vinaigrette.
Combine garlic, mustard, maple vinegar and salt and pepper in a large measuring cup. Whisk to combine.
Slowly drizzle in olive oil until, an emulsion is formed.
Place kale in a large salad bowl.
Drizzle about ⅓ c over kale leaves and use your hands to massage into leaves.
Add rest of salad ingredients together to the bowl with the kale, reserving a few pecans, apples, pomegranates or cranberries, and cheese for sprinkling on top.
Toss with more dressing if needed and add more salt or pepper to taste.
Notes
Different types of kale taste differently. Taste a few and figure out what you like.
More Kale Recipes
Purple Kale Salad with Blueberry Lime Vinaigrette
Farro and Kale Salad with Brown Butter Vinaigrette
Tina says
Incredibly delicious and easy. What a great fall salad to serve alongside my Thanksgiving meal. Thank you
Abbe says
I agree! And even better because the salad keeps well for the next day, too! Thanks Tina!
b says
Great salad.
Loved the dressing.
Couldn't find my cranberries so used dried cherries.
Abbe says
I love dried cherries!
Laurie says
Can I add a little maple syrup to balsamic vinegar? If I can’t find the maple balsamic vinegar.
Abbe says
Absolutely Laurie! Definitely use what you have!
Bonnie says
Love this. Great way to use kale. When I told my son in law we were having kale salad he didn’t look too pleased. But at the end of the meal he told me he really liked it!
Abbe says
Isn't it funny how even non-kale lovers love this? Thanks for the comment!
Vicki says
Awesome salad.
Abbe says
Thanks Vicki. Glad you enjoyed. We love it too!
Dawn says
Very good. I made it for me and a coworker and she said it was the best salad she ever had and wants me to make it for her dinner party. She then asked for the recipe to make it for her son. It's a keeper for sure.
Abbe says
Thanks Dawn! I love it when people love kale! And it is a great salad for a party because it keeps so well!
Mary says
Very good changed dressing,added walnuts,no onion. We ate two servings
Susan says
Delicious ingredients! I've made chopped kale salad before but never one with a sweet and savory flavor so it's going on my list to try...Thank you!
mjskitchen says
If this outclassed the green chile sliders then is has to be good. 🙂 So simple but looks at all those flavors. What a great salad Abbe!
Abbe says
Crack me up! Those sliders were good! Now I have to make more and post them! But the kale salad really had them chomping!
Kankana Saxena says
This would be a great pair with some grilled veggie or meat on the side.
mimi rippee says
well, i dislike kale, but I've never had a salad with it at home so I really should try this. I love all of the ingredients. And maple-infused balsamic is fabulous!
Holly says
Love the color and freshness of your kale salad. It took me a while to include kale rather than all spinach but I really look forward to kale salads now.
Liz says
I love ordering kale salads when dining out, but it's been a long time since I've made one. Yours looks terrific and love the idea of chopping the kale instead of massaging it!
angiesrecipes says
With pecans and feta, how could the kale salad not tasty!? Gorgeous colour and wonderful flavour...I would love some!
John / Kitchen Riffs says
I've made a lot of kale salads, but never a chopped one for some reason. Like the idea -- and so many yummy ingredients in this one. I need to make this. Turkey sliders optional. 🙂